1
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Development of Dibenzothiazepine Derivatives as Multifunctional Compounds for Neuropathic Pain. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040407. [PMID: 35455404 PMCID: PMC9030932 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic and sometimes intractable condition caused by lesions or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system. Many drugs are available but unfortunately do not provide satisfactory effects in patients, producing limited analgesia and undesirable side effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new pharmaceutical agents to treat neuropathic pain. To date, highly specific agents that modulate a single target, such as receptors or ion channels, never progress to the clinic, which may reflect the diverse etiologies of neuropathic pain seen in the human patient population. Therefore, the development of multifunctional compounds exhibiting two or more pharmacological activities is an attractive strategy for addressing unmet medical needs for the treatment of neuropathic pain. To develop novel multifunctional compounds, key pharmacophores of currently used clinical pain drugs, including pregabalin, fluoxetine and serotonin analogs, were hybridized to the side chain of tianeptine, which has been used as an antidepressant. The biological activities of the hybrid analogs were evaluated at the human transporters of neurotransmitters, including serotonin (hSERT), norepinephrine (hNET) and dopamine (hDAT), as well as mu (μ) and kappa (κ) opioid receptors. The most advanced hybrid of these multifunctional compounds, 17, exhibited multiple transporter inhibitory activities for the uptake of neurotransmitters with IC50 values of 70 nM, 154 nM and 2.01 μM at hSERT, hNET and hDAT, respectively. Additionally, compound 17 showed partial agonism (EC50 = 384 nM) at the μ-opioid receptor with no influence at the κ-opioid receptor. In in vivo pain animal experiments, the multifunctional compound 17 showed significantly reduced allodynia in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model by intrathecal administration, indicating that multitargeted strategies in single therapy could considerably benefit patients with multifactorial diseases, such as pain.
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2
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Xing Y, Liu Y, Deng M, Wang HP, Abdul M, Zhang FF, Zhang Z, Cao JL. The synergistic effects of opioid and neuropeptide B/W in rat acute inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 898:173979. [PMID: 33639195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of morphine is controversial due to the incidence of rewarding behavior, respiratory depression, and tolerance, leading to increased drug dose requirements, advancing to morphine addiction. To overcome these barriers, strategies have been taken to combine morphine with other analgesics. Neuropeptide B23 and neuropeptide W23 (NPB23 and NPW23) are commonly used to relieve inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain. As NPB23 and NPW23 system shares similar anatomical basis with opioid system at least in the spinal cord we hypothesized that NPB23 or NPW23 and morphine may synergistically relieve inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain. To test this hypothesis, we demonstrated that μ opioid receptor and NPBW1 receptor (receptor of NPB23 and NPW23) are colocalized in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Secondly, co-administration of morphine witheitherNPB23 or NPW23 synergistically attenuated inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Furthermore, either NPB23 or NPW23 significantly reduced morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and constipation. We also found that phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) following morphine was profoundly potentiated by the application of NPB23 or NPW23. Hence, combination of morphine with either NPB23 or NPW23 reduced dose of morphine required for pain relief in inflammatory and neuropathic pain, while effectively prevented some side-effects of morphine.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Synergism
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Formaldehyde
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Male
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Neuropeptides/chemical synthesis
- Neuropeptides/pharmacology
- Neuropeptides/therapeutic use
- Nociceptive Pain/chemically induced
- Nociceptive Pain/metabolism
- Nociceptive Pain/physiopathology
- Nociceptive Pain/prevention & control
- Pain Threshold/drug effects
- Phosphorylation
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/agonists
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Receptors, Neuropeptide/agonists
- Receptors, Neuropeptide/genetics
- Receptors, Neuropeptide/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Sciatica/metabolism
- Sciatica/physiopathology
- Sciatica/prevention & control
- Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn/drug effects
- Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn/metabolism
- Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn/physiopathology
- Rats
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Xing
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Mengqiu Deng
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Hui-Ping Wang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Mannan Abdul
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Fei-Fei Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China.
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China; Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, China.
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3
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Abstract
Opioids such as morphine and oxycodone are analgesics frequently prescribed for the treatment of moderate or severe pain. Unfortunately, these medications are associated with exceptionally high abuse potentials and often cause fatal side effects, mainly through the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). Efforts to discover novel, safer, and more efficacious analgesics targeting MOR have encountered challenges. In this review, we summarize alternative strategies and targets that could be used to develop safer nonopioid analgesics. A molecular understanding of G protein-coupled receptor activation and signaling has illuminated not only the complexities of receptor pharmacology but also the potential for pathway-selective agonists and allosteric modulators as safer medications. The availability of structures of pain-related receptors, in combination with high-throughput computational tools, has accelerated the discovery of multitarget ligands with promising pharmacological profiles. Emerging clinical evidence also supports the notion that drugs targeting peripheral opioid receptors have potential as improved analgesic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA; .,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA;
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4
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Multifunctional Opioid-Derived Hybrids in Neuropathic Pain: Preclinical Evidence, Ideas and Challenges. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235520. [PMID: 33255641 PMCID: PMC7728063 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
When the first- and second-line therapeutics used to treat neuropathic pain (NP) fail to induce efficient analgesia—which is estimated to relate to more than half of the patients—opioid drugs are prescribed. Still, the pathological changes following the nerve tissue injury, i.a. pronociceptive neuropeptide systems activation, oppose the analgesic effects of opiates, enforcing the use of relatively high therapeutic doses in order to obtain satisfying pain relief. In parallel, the repeated use of opioid agonists is associated with burdensome adverse effects due to compensatory mechanisms that arise thereafter. Rational design of hybrid drugs, in which opioid ligands are combined with other pharmacophores that block the antiopioid action of pronociceptive systems, delivers the opportunity to ameliorate the NP-oriented opioid treatment via addressing neuropathological mechanisms shared both by NP and repeated exposition to opioids. Therewith, the new dually acting drugs, tailored for the specificity of NP, can gain in efficacy under nerve injury conditions and have an improved safety profile as compared to selective opioid agonists. The current review presents the latest ideas on opioid-comprising hybrid drugs designed to treat painful neuropathy, with focus on their biological action, as well as limitations and challenges related to this therapeutic approach.
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5
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Abstract
The management of pain, particularly chronic pain, is still an area of medical need. In this context, opioids remain a gold standard for the treatment of pain. However, significant side effects, mainly of central origin, limit their clinical use. Here, we review recent progress to improve the therapeutic and safety profiles of opioids for pain management. Characterization of peripheral opioid-mediated pain mechanisms have been a key component of this process. Several studies identified peripheral µ, δ, and κ opioid receptors (MOR, DOR, and KOR, respectively) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptors as significant players of opioid-mediated antinociception, able to achieve clinically significant effects independently of any central action. Following this, particularly from a medicinal chemistry point of view, main efforts have been directed towards the peripheralization of opioid receptor agonists with the objective of optimizing receptor activity and minimizing central exposure and the associated undesired effects. These activities have allowed the characterization of a great variety of compounds and investigational drugs that show low central nervous system (CNS) penetration (and therefore a reduced side effect profile) yet maintaining the desired opioid-related peripheral antinociceptive activity. These include highly hydrophilic/amphiphilic and massive molecules unable to easily cross lipid membranes, substrates of glycoprotein P (a extrusion pump that avoids CNS penetration), nanocarriers that release the analgesic agent at the site of inflammation and pain, and pH-sensitive opioid agonists that selectively activate at those sites (and represent a new pharmacodynamic paradigm). Hopefully, patients with pain will benefit soon from the incorporation of these new entities.
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6
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Abstract
Pain is an essential protective mechanism that the body uses to alert or prevent further damage. Pain sensation is a complex event involving perception, transmission, processing, and response. Neurons at different levels (peripheral, spinal cord, and brain) are responsible for these pro- or antinociceptive activities to ensure an appropriate response to external stimuli. The terminals of these neurons, both in the peripheral endings and in the synapses, are equipped with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels that sense structurally diverse stimuli and inhibitors of neuronal activity. This review will focus on the largest class of sensory proteins, the GPCRs, as they are distributed throughout ascending and descending neurons and regulate activity at each step during pain transmission. GPCR activation also directly or indirectly controls the function of co-localized ion channels. The levels and types of some GPCRs are significantly altered in different pain models, especially chronic pain states, emphasizing that these molecules could be new targets for therapeutic intervention in chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States.,Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacology and Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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7
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Matalińska J, Lipiński PFJ, Kosson P, Kosińska K, Misicka A. In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Studies of the Hybrid Compound AA3266, an Opioid Agonist/NK1R Antagonist with Selective Cytotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7738. [PMID: 33086743 PMCID: PMC7588979 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AA3266 is a hybrid compound consisting of opioid receptor agonist and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist pharmacophores. It was designed with the desire to have an analgesic molecule with improved properties and auxiliary anticancer activity. Previously, the compound was found to exhibit high affinity for μ- and δ-opioid receptors, while moderate binding to NK1R. In the presented contribution, we report on a deeper investigation of this hybrid. In vivo, we have established that AA3266 has potent antinociceptive activity in acute pain model, comparable to that of morphine. Desirably, with prolonged administration, our hybrid induces less tolerance than morphine does. AA3266, contrary to morphine, does not cause development of constipation, which is one of the main undesirable effects of opioid use. In vitro, we have confirmed relatively strong cytotoxic activity on a few selected cancer cell lines, similar to or greater than that of a reference NK1R antagonist, aprepitant. Importantly, our compound affects normal cells to smaller extent what makes our compound more selective against cancer cells. In silico methods, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital calculations, have been used to investigate the interactions of AA3266 with MOR and NK1R. Insights from these will guide structural optimization of opioid/antitachykinin hybrid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Matalińska
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Piotr F. J. Lipiński
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Piotr Kosson
- Toxicology Research Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Katarzyna Kosińska
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Aleksandra Misicka
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (K.K.); (A.M.)
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8
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Busserolles J, Lolignier S, Kerckhove N, Bertin C, Authier N, Eschalier A. Replacement of current opioid drugs focusing on MOR-related strategies. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 210:107519. [PMID: 32165137 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The scarcity and limited risk/benefit ratio of painkillers available on the market, in addition to the opioid crisis, warrant reflection on new innovation strategies. The pharmacopoeia of analgesics is based on products that are often old and derived from clinical empiricism, with limited efficacy or spectrum of action, or resulting in an unsatisfactory tolerability profile. Although they are reference analgesics for nociceptive pain, opioids are subject to the same criticism. The use of opium as an analgesic is historical. Morphine was synthesized at the beginning of the 19th century. The efficacy of opioids is limited in certain painful contexts and these drugs can induce potentially serious and fatal adverse effects. The current North American opioid crisis, with an ever-rising number of deaths by opioid overdose, is a tragic illustration of this. It is therefore legitimate to develop research into molecules likely to maintain or increase opioid efficacy while improving their tolerability. Several avenues are being explored including targeting of the mu opioid receptor (MOR) splice variants, developing biased agonists or targeting of other receptors such as heteromers with MOR. Ion channels acting as MOR effectors, are also targeted in order to offer compounds without MOR-dependent adverse effects. Another route is to develop opioid analgesics with peripheral action or limited central nervous system (CNS) access. Finally, endogenous opioids used as drugs or compounds that modify the metabolism of endogenous opioids (Dual ENKephalinase Inhibitors) are being developed. The aim of the present review is to present these various targets/strategies with reference to current indications for opioids, concerns about their widespread use, particularly in chronic non-cancer pains, and ways of limiting the risk of opioid abuse and misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Busserolles
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Stéphane Lolignier
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nicolas Kerckhove
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Observatoire Français des Médicaments Antalgiques (OFMA), French monitoring centre for analgesic drugs, CHU, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Célian Bertin
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Observatoire Français des Médicaments Antalgiques (OFMA), French monitoring centre for analgesic drugs, CHU, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nicolas Authier
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Observatoire Français des Médicaments Antalgiques (OFMA), French monitoring centre for analgesic drugs, CHU, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alain Eschalier
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, CHU, NEURO-DOL Pharmacologie Fondamentale et Clinique de la douleur, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut ANALGESIA, Faculté de Médecine, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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9
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Hruby VJ. Multivalent peptide and peptidomimetic ligands for the treatment of pain without toxicities and addiction. Peptides 2019; 116:63-67. [PMID: 31014958 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The current opioid crisis has created a tragic problem in medicine and society. Pain is the most ubiquitous and costly disease in society and yet all of our "treatments" have toxicities, especially for prolonged use. However, there are several alternatives that have been discovered in the past fifteen years that have been demonstrated in animals to have none of the toxicities of current drugs. Many of the compounds are multivalent and have novel biological activity profiles. Unfortunately, none of these have been in clinical trials in humans, perhaps because they were discovered in academic laboratories. A review of these novel chemicals are given in this paper.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use
- Animals
- Humans
- Ligands
- Opioid Peptides/chemistry
- Opioid Peptides/therapeutic use
- Pain/drug therapy
- Pain/pathology
- Pain Management
- Peptides/adverse effects
- Peptides/therapeutic use
- Peptidomimetics/adverse effects
- Peptidomimetics/therapeutic use
- Receptors, Opioid/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid/therapeutic use
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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10
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Machelska H, Celik MÖ. Advances in Achieving Opioid Analgesia Without Side Effects. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1388. [PMID: 30555325 PMCID: PMC6282113 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are the most effective drugs for the treatment of severe pain, but they also cause addiction and overdose deaths, which have led to a worldwide opioid crisis. Therefore, the development of safer opioids is urgently needed. In this article, we provide a critical overview of emerging opioid-based strategies aimed at effective pain relief and improved side effect profiles. These approaches comprise biased agonism, the targeting of (i) opioid receptors in peripheral inflamed tissue (by reducing agonist access to the brain, the use of nanocarriers, or low pH-sensitive agonists); (ii) heteromers or multiple receptors (by monovalent, bivalent, and multifunctional ligands); (iii) receptor splice variants; and (iv) endogenous opioid peptides (by preventing their degradation or enhancing their production by gene transfer). Substantial advancements are underscored by pharmaceutical development of new opioids such as peripheral κ-receptor agonists, and by treatments augmenting the action of endogenous opioids, which have entered clinical trials. Additionally, there are several promising novel opioids comprehensively examined in preclinical studies, but also strategies such as biased agonism, which might require careful rethinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halina Machelska
- Department of Experimental Anesthesiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melih Ö Celik
- Department of Experimental Anesthesiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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11
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Abstract
Hybrid compounds (also known as chimeras, designed multiple ligands, bivalent compounds) are chemical units where two active components, usually possessing affinity and selectivity for distinct molecular targets, are combined as a single chemical entity. The rationale for using a chimeric approach is well documented as such novel drugs are characterized by their enhanced enzymatic stability and biological activity. This allows their use at lower concentrations, increasing their safety profile, particularly when considering undesirable side effects. In the group of synthetic bivalent compounds, drugs combining pharmacophores having affinities toward opioid and neurokinin-1 receptors have been extensively studied as potential analgesic drugs. Indeed, substance P is known as a major endogenous modulator of nociception both in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Hence, synthetic peptide fragments showing either agonism or antagonism at neurokinin 1 receptor were both assigned with analgesic properties. However, even though preclinical studies designated neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists as promising analgesics, early clinical studies revealed a lack of efficacy in human. Nevertheless, their molecular combination with enkephalin/endomorphin fragments has been considered as a valuable approach to design putatively promising ligands for the treatment of pain. This paper is aimed at summarizing a 20-year journey to the development of potent analgesic hybrid compounds involving an opioid pharmacophore and devoid of unwanted side effects. Additionally, the legitimacy of considering neurokinin-1 receptor ligands in the design of chimeric drugs is discussed.
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12
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Sandweiss AJ, McIntosh MI, Moutal A, Davidson-Knapp R, Hu J, Giri AK, Yamamoto T, Hruby VJ, Khanna R, Largent-Milnes TM, Vanderah TW. Genetic and pharmacological antagonism of NK 1 receptor prevents opiate abuse potential. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1745-1755. [PMID: 28485408 PMCID: PMC5680162 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Development of an efficacious, non-addicting analgesic has been challenging. Discovery of novel mechanisms underlying addiction may present a solution. Here we target the neurokinin system, which is involved in both pain and addiction. Morphine exerts its rewarding actions, at least in part, by inhibiting GABAergic input onto substance P (SP) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), subsequently increasing SP release onto dopaminergic neurons. Genome editing of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in the VTA renders morphine non-rewarding. Complementing our genetic approach, we demonstrate utility of a bivalent pharmacophore with dual activity as a μ/δ opioid agonist and NK1R antagonist in inhibiting nociception in an animal model of acute pain while lacking any positive reinforcement. These data indicate that dual targeting of the dopaminergic reward circuitry and pain pathways with a multifunctional opioid agonist-NK1R antagonist may be an efficacious strategy in developing future analgesics that lack abuse potential.
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MESH Headings
- Acute Pain/drug therapy
- Acute Pain/metabolism
- Analgesics/pharmacology
- Animals
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dopamine/metabolism
- Escherichia coli
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Male
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Morphine/pharmacology
- Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
- Nociceptive Pain/drug therapy
- Nociceptive Pain/metabolism
- Opioid-Related Disorders/genetics
- Opioid-Related Disorders/metabolism
- Opioid-Related Disorders/prevention & control
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, Neurokinin-1/genetics
- Receptors, Neurokinin-1/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Reward
- Substance P/metabolism
- Ventral Tegmental Area/drug effects
- Ventral Tegmental Area/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Sandweiss
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M I McIntosh
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - R Davidson-Knapp
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A K Giri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T Yamamoto
- Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - V J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - R Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T M Largent-Milnes
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T W Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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13
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Abstract
Opioids are the most effective drugs for the treatment of severe pain, but they also cause addiction and overdose deaths, which have led to a worldwide opioid crisis. Therefore, the development of safer opioids is urgently needed. In this article, we provide a critical overview of emerging opioid-based strategies aimed at effective pain relief and improved side effect profiles. These approaches comprise biased agonism, the targeting of (i) opioid receptors in peripheral inflamed tissue (by reducing agonist access to the brain, the use of nanocarriers, or low pH-sensitive agonists); (ii) heteromers or multiple receptors (by monovalent, bivalent, and multifunctional ligands); (iii) receptor splice variants; and (iv) endogenous opioid peptides (by preventing their degradation or enhancing their production by gene transfer). Substantial advancements are underscored by pharmaceutical development of new opioids such as peripheral κ-receptor agonists, and by treatments augmenting the action of endogenous opioids, which have entered clinical trials. Additionally, there are several promising novel opioids comprehensively examined in preclinical studies, but also strategies such as biased agonism, which might require careful rethinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halina Machelska
- Department of Experimental Anesthesiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melih Ö Celik
- Department of Experimental Anesthesiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Yadlapalli JSK, Dogra N, Walbaum AW, Wessinger WD, Prather PL, Crooks PA, Dobretsov M. Evaluation of Analgesia, Tolerance, and the Mechanism of Action of Morphine-6-O-Sulfate Across Multiple Pain Modalities in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Anesth Analg 2017; 125:1021-1031. [PMID: 28489639 PMCID: PMC5561516 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000002006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morphine-6-O-sulfate (M6S) is a mixed μ/δ-opioid receptor (OR) agonist and potential alternative to morphine for treatment of chronic multimodal pain. METHODS To provide more support for this hypothesis, the antinociceptive effects of M6S and morphine were compared in tests that access a range of pain modalities, including hot plate threshold (HPT), pinprick sensitivity threshold (PST) and paw pressure threshold tests. RESULTS Acutely, M6S was 2- to 3-fold more potent than morphine in HPT and PST tests, specifically, derived from best-fit analysis of dose-response relationships of morphine/M6S half-effective dose (ED50) ratios (lower, upper 95% confidence interval [CI]) were 2.8 (2.0-5.8) in HPT and 2.2 (2.1, 2.4) in PST tests. No differences in analgesic drug potencies were detected in the PPT test (morphine/M6S ED50 ratio 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.4). After 7 to 9 days of chronic treatment, tolerance developed to the antinociceptive effects of morphine, but not to M6S, in all 3 pain tests. Morphine-tolerant rats were not crosstolerant to M6S. The antinociceptive effects of M6S were not sensitive to κ-OR antagonists. However, the δ-OR antagonist, naltrindole, blocked M6S-induced antinociception by 55% ± 4% (95% CI, 39-75) in the HPT test, 94% ± 4% (95% CI, 84-105) in the PST test, and 5% ± 17% (95% CI, -47 to 59) or 51% ± 14% (95% CI, 14-84; 6 rats per each group) in the paw pressure threshold test when examined acutely or after 7 days of chronic treatment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Activity via δ-ORs thus appears to be an important determinant of M6S action. M6S also exhibited favorable antinociceptive and tolerance profiles compared with morphine in 3 different antinociceptive assays, indicating that M6S may serve as a useful alternative for rotation in morphine-tolerant subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jai Shankar K. Yadlapalli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - Navdeep Dogra
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - Anqi W. Walbaum
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - William D. Wessinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - Paul L. Prather
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - Peter A. Crooks
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
| | - Maxim Dobretsov
- Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA 72205
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15
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Jonas KC, Hanyaloglu AC. Impact of G protein-coupled receptor heteromers in endocrine systems. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 449:21-27. [PMID: 28115188 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The fine-tuning of endocrine homeostasis is regulated by dynamic receptor mediated processes. The superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have diverse roles in the modulation of all endocrine axes, thus understanding the mechanisms underpinning their functionality is paramount for treatment of endocrinopathies. Evidence over the last 20 years has highlighted homo and heteromerization as a key mode of mediating GPCR functional diversity. This review will discuss the concept of GPCR heteromerization and its relevance to endocrine function, detailing in vitro and in vivo evidence, and exploring current and potential pharmacological strategies for specific targeting of GPCR heteromers in endocrine heath and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Jonas
- Cell Biology and Genetics Research Centre, Centre for Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's, University of London, UK.
| | - A C Hanyaloglu
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Dept. Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
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16
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Grenald SA, Young MA, Wang Y, Ossipov MH, Ibrahim MM, Largent-Milnes TM, Vanderah TW. Synergistic attenuation of chronic pain using mu opioid and cannabinoid receptor 2 agonists. Neuropharmacology 2017; 116:59-70. [PMID: 28007501 PMCID: PMC5385155 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The misuse of prescription opiates is on the rise with combination therapies (e.g. acetaminophen or NSAIDs) resulting in severe liver and kidney damage. In recent years, cannabinoid receptors have been identified as potential modulators of pain and rewarding behaviors associated with cocaine, nicotine and ethanol in preclinical models. Yet, few studies have identified whether mu opioid agonists and CB2 agonists act synergistically to inhibit chronic pain while reducing unwanted side effects including reward liability. We determined if analgesic synergy exists between the mu-opioid agonist morphine and the selective CB2 agonist, JWH015, in rodent models of acute and chronic inflammatory, post-operative, and neuropathic pain using isobolographic analysis. We also investigated if the MOR-CB2 agonist combination decreased morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and slowing of gastrointestinal transit. Co-administration of morphine with JWH015 synergistically inhibited preclinical inflammatory, post-operative and neuropathic-pain in a dose- and time-dependent manner; no synergy was observed for nociceptive pain. Opioid-induced side effects of impaired gastrointestinal transit and CPP were significantly reduced in the presence of JWH015. Here we show that MOR + CB2 agonism results in a significant synergistic inhibition of preclinical pain while significantly reducing opioid-induced unwanted side effects. The opioid sparing effect of CB2 receptor agonism strongly supports the advancement of a MOR-CB2 agonist combinatorial pain therapy for clinical trials.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/pharmacology
- Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects
- Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology
- Animals
- Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
- Chronic Pain/drug therapy
- Chronic Pain/metabolism
- Constipation/chemically induced
- Constipation/drug therapy
- Constipation/metabolism
- Corpus Striatum/drug effects
- Corpus Striatum/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dopamine/metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Synergism
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Morphine/adverse effects
- Morphine/pharmacology
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Reward
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaness A Grenald
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Madison A Young
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Michael H Ossipov
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Mohab M Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Tally M Largent-Milnes
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Todd W Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85724, United States.
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17
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Sustained relief of ongoing experimental neuropathic pain by a CRMP2 peptide aptamer with low abuse potential. Pain 2017; 157:2124-2140. [PMID: 27537210 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Uncoupling the protein-protein interaction between collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) and N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2) with an allosteric CRMP2-derived peptide (CBD3) is antinociceptive in rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. We investigated the efficacy, duration of action, abuse potential, and neurobehavioral toxicity of an improved mutant CRMP2 peptide. A homopolyarginine (R9)-conjugated CBD3-A6K (R9-CBD3-A6K) peptide inhibited the CaV2.2-CRMP2 interaction in a concentration-dependent fashion and diminished surface expression of CaV2.2 and depolarization-evoked Ca influx in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons. In vitro studies demonstrated suppression of excitability of small-to-medium diameter dorsal root ganglion and inhibition of subtypes of voltage-gated Ca channels. Sprague-Dawley rats with tibial nerve injury had profound and long-lasting tactile allodynia and ongoing pain. Immediate administration of R9-CBD3-A6K produced enhanced dopamine release from the nucleus accumbens shell selectively in injured animals, consistent with relief of ongoing pain. R9-CBD3-A6K, when administered repeatedly into the central nervous system ventricles of naive rats, did not result in a positive conditioned place preference demonstrating a lack of abusive liability. Continuous subcutaneous infusion of R9-CBD3-A6K over a 24- to 72-hour period reversed tactile allodynia and ongoing pain, demonstrating a lack of tolerance over this time course. Importantly, continuous infusion of R9-CBD3-A6K did not affect motor activity, anxiety, depression, or memory and learning. Collectively, these results validate the potential therapeutic significance of targeting the CaV-CRMP2 axis for treatment of neuropathic pain.
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18
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Brito B, Vazquez E, Taylor P, Alvarado Y, Vanegas H, Millan A, Tortorici V. Antinociceptive effect of systemically administered dipyrone (metamizol), magnesium chloride or both in a murine model of cancer. Eur J Pain 2016; 21:541-551. [DOI: 10.1002/ejp.957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B.E. Brito
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology; Center for Experimental Medicine; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - E. Vazquez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology; Center for Biophysics and Biochemistry; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- School of Psychology; Andrés Bello Catholic University; Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - P. Taylor
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology; Center for Experimental Medicine; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - Y. Alvarado
- Laboratory of Molecular Characterization and Biomolecules; Department of Research Materials, Technology and Environment; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - H. Vanegas
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology; Center for Biophysics and Biochemistry; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - A. Millan
- Department of Behavioral Sciences; Metropolitan University (UNIMET); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
| | - V. Tortorici
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology; Center for Biophysics and Biochemistry; Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- School of Psychology; Andrés Bello Catholic University; Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Department of Behavioral Sciences; Metropolitan University (UNIMET); Caracas Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
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19
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Giri AK, Apostol CR, Wang Y, Forte BL, Largent-Milnes TM, Davis P, Rankin D, Molnar G, Olson KM, Porreca F, Vanderah TW, Hruby VJ. Discovery of Novel Multifunctional Ligands with μ/δ Opioid Agonist/Neurokinin-1 (NK1) Antagonist Activities for the Treatment of Pain. J Med Chem 2015; 58:8573-83. [PMID: 26465170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Multifunctional ligands with agonist bioactivities at μ/δ opioid receptors (MOR/DOR) and antagonist bioactivity at the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) have been designed and synthesized. These peptide-based ligands are anticipated to produce better biological profiles (e.g., higher analgesic effect with significantly less adverse side effects) compared to those of existing drugs and to deliver better synergistic effects than coadministration of a mixture of multiple drugs. A systematic structure-activity relationship (SAR) study has been conducted to find multifunctional ligands with desired activities at three receptors. It has been found that introduction of Dmt (2,6-dimethyl-tyrosine) at the first position and NMePhe at the fourth position (ligand 3: H-Dmt-d-Ala-Gly-NMePhe-Pro-Leu-Trp-NH-Bn(3',5'-(CF3)2)) displays binding as well as functional selectivity for MOR over DOR while maintaining efficacy, potency, and antagonist activity at the NK1R. Dmt at the first position with Phe(4-F) at the fourth position (ligand 5: H-Dmt-d-Ala-Gly-Phe(4-F)-Pro-Leu-Trp-NH-Bn(3',5'-(CF3)2)) exhibits balanced binding affinities at MOR and DOR though it has higher agonist activity at DOR over MOR. This study has led to the discovery of several novel ligands including 3 and 5 with excellent in vitro biological activity profiles. Metabolic stability studies in rat plasma with ligands 3, 5, and 7 (H-Tyr-d-Ala-Gly-Phe(4-F)-Pro-Leu-Trp-NH-Bn(3',5'-(CF3)2)) showed that their stability depends on modifications at the first and fourth positions (3: T1/2 > 24 h; 5: T1/2 ≈ 6 h; 7: T1/2 > 2 h). Preliminary in vivo studies with these two ligands have shown promising antinociceptive activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswini Kumar Giri
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona , 1306 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Christopher R Apostol
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona , 1306 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Brittany L Forte
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Tally M Largent-Milnes
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Peg Davis
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - David Rankin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Gabriella Molnar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | | | - Frank Porreca
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Todd W Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona , 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona , 1306 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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20
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Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) compose one of the largest families of membrane proteins involved in intracellular signaling. They are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes and are prime candidates for drug development. Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies have reported heteromerization between GPCRs. Many investigations in heterologous systems have provided important indications of potential novel pharmacology; however, the physiological relevance of these findings has yet to be established with endogenous receptors in native tissues. In this review, we focus on family A GPCRs and describe the techniques and criteria to assess their heteromerization. We conclude that advances in approaches to study receptor complex functionality in heterologous systems, coupled with techniques that enable specific examination of native receptor heteromers in vivo, are likely to establish GPCR heteromers as novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivone Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029;
| | - Mohammed Akli Ayoub
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
- LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, F-45000 Orleans, France
| | - Wakako Fujita
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029;
- Current address: Department of Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8588, Japan
| | - Werner C Jaeger
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Kevin D G Pfleger
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Dimerix Bioscience Limited, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Lakshmi A Devi
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029;
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21
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Nair P, Yamamoto T, Cowell S, Kulkarni V, Moye S, Navratilova E, Davis P, Ma SW, Vanderah TW, Lai J, Porreca F, Hruby VJ. Discovery of tripeptide-derived multifunctional ligands possessing delta/mu opioid receptor agonist and neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist activities. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:3716-20. [PMID: 26212775 PMCID: PMC4642890 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Several bifunctional peptides were synthesized and characterized based on the pentapeptide-derived ligand NP30 (1: Tyr-DAla-Gly-Phe-Gly-Trp-O-[3',5'-Bzl(CF3)2]). Modification and truncation of amino acid residues were performed, and the tripeptide-derived ligand NP66 (11: Dmt-DAla-Trp-NH-[3',5'-(CF3)2-Bzl]) was obtained based on the overlapping pharmacophore concept. The Trp(3) residue of ligand 11 works as a message residue for both opioid and NK1 activities. The significance lies in the observation that the approach of appropriate truncation of peptide sequence could lead to a tripeptide-derived chimeric ligand with effective binding and functional activities for both mu and delta opioid and NK1 receptors with agonist activities at mu and delta opioid and antagonist activity at NK1 receptors, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma Nair
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Scott Cowell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Vinod Kulkarni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Sharif Moye
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Edita Navratilova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Peg Davis
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Shou-Wu Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Todd W Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Josephine Lai
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Frank Porreca
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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22
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François-Moutal L, Wang Y, Moutal A, Cottier KE, Melemedjian OK, Yang X, Wang Y, Ju W, Largent-Milnes TM, Khanna M, Vanderah TW, Khanna R. A membrane-delimited N-myristoylated CRMP2 peptide aptamer inhibits CaV2.2 trafficking and reverses inflammatory and postoperative pain behaviors. Pain 2015; 156:1247-1264. [PMID: 25782368 PMCID: PMC5766324 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Targeting proteins within the N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2) complex has proven to be an effective strategy for developing novel pain therapeutics. We describe a novel peptide aptamer derived from the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), a CaV2.2-regulatory protein. Addition of a 14-carbon myristate group to the peptide (myr-tat-CBD3) tethered it to the membrane of primary sensory neurons near surface CaV2.2. Pull-down studies demonstrated that myr-tat-CBD3 peptide interfered with the CRMP2-CaV2.2 interaction. Quantitative confocal immunofluorescence revealed a pronounced reduction of CaV2.2 trafficking after myr-tat-CBD3 treatment and increased efficiency in disrupting CRMP2-CaV2.2 colocalization compared with peptide tat-CBD3. Consequently, myr-tat-CBD3 inhibited depolarization-induced calcium influx in sensory neurons. Voltage clamp electrophysiology experiments revealed a reduction of Ca, but not Na, currents in sensory neurons after myr-tat-CBD3 exposure. Current clamp electrophysiology experiments demonstrated a reduction in excitability of small-diameter dorsal root ganglion neurons after exposure to myr-tat-CBD3. Myr-tat-CBD3 was effective in significantly attenuating carrageenan-induced thermal hypersensitivity and reversing thermal hypersensitivity induced by a surgical incision of the plantar surface of the rat hind paw, a model of postoperative pain. These effects are compared with those of tat-CBD3-the nonmyristoylated tat-conjugated CRMP2 peptide as well as scrambled versions of CBD3 and CBD3-lacking control peptides. Our results demonstrate that the myristoyl tag enhances intracellular delivery and local concentration of the CRMP2 peptide aptamer near membrane-delimited calcium channels resulting in pronounced interference with the calcium channel complex, superior suppression of calcium influx, and better antinociceptive potential.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Aptamers, Peptide/genetics
- Aptamers, Peptide/metabolism
- Aptamers, Peptide/therapeutic use
- Calcium Channels, N-Type/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Ganglia, Spinal/drug effects
- Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism
- Inflammation/drug therapy
- Inflammation/genetics
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Male
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/therapeutic use
- Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy
- Pain, Postoperative/genetics
- Pain, Postoperative/metabolism
- Protein Transport/drug effects
- Protein Transport/physiology
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Karissa E. Cottier
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Xiaofang Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Yuying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Weina Ju
- Department of Pharmacology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | | | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Todd W. Vanderah
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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23
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Fujita W, Gomes I, Devi LA. Revolution in GPCR signalling: opioid receptor heteromers as novel therapeutic targets: IUPHAR review 10. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 171:4155-76. [PMID: 24916280 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
GPCRs can interact with each other to form homomers or heteromers. Homomers involve interactions with the same receptor type while heteromers involve interactions between two different GPCRs. These receptor-receptor interactions modulate not only the binding but also the signalling and trafficking properties of individual receptors. Opioid receptor heteromerization has been extensively investigated with the objective of identifying novel therapeutic targets that are as potent as morphine but without the side effects associated with chronic morphine use. In this context, studies have described heteromerization between the different types of opioid receptors and between opioid receptors and a wide range of GPCRs including adrenoceptors, cannabinoid, 5-HT, metabotropic glutamate and sensory neuron-specific receptors. Recent advances in the field involving the generation of heteromer-specific reagents (antibodies or ligands) or of membrane-permeable peptides that disrupt the heteromer interaction are helping to elucidate the physiological role of opioid receptor heteromers and the contribution of the partner receptor to the side effects associated with opioid use. For example, studies using membrane-permeable peptides targeting the heteromer interface have implicated μ and δ receptor heteromers in the development of tolerance to morphine, and heteromers of μ and gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in morphine-induced itch. In addition, a number of ligands that selectively target opioid receptor heteromers exhibit potent antinociception with a decrease in the side effects commonly associated with morphine use. In this review, we summarize the latest findings regarding the biological and functional characteristics of opioid receptor heteromers both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wakako Fujita
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Rational Approach to the Design of Bioactive Peptidomimetics: Recent Developments in Opioid Agonist Peptides. STUDIES IN NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63462-7.00002-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-sixth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2013 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia; stress and social status; tolerance and dependence; learning and memory; eating and drinking; alcohol and drugs of abuse; sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology; mental illness and mood; seizures and neurologic disorders; electrical-related activity and neurophysiology; general activity and locomotion; gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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Grenald SA, Largent-Milnes TM, Vanderah TW. Animal models for opioid addiction drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2014; 9:1345-54. [PMID: 25307021 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2014.966076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since ancient times, the opium poppy has been used in a variety of settings, including pain management. Natural and synthetic derivatives of opium are commonly used in medicine today and include drugs, such as morphine, codeine, hydromorphone and oxycodone. Although excellent at inhibiting pain, these narcotics often produce a state of euphoria leading to misuse and abuse by the general population, particularly in young adults. The misuse of prescription opiates has continually increased over the past 10 years despite associated negative outcomes, resulting in opiate psychological dependence, withdrawal and relapse. AREAS COVERED This paper briefly refers to the history of opiate use and the modern challenges associated with chronic exposure. The authors present the prevalence of addiction and misuse of prescription opiates and discuss some of the opiate-associated effects. This includes activation of reward circuitry and compensatory receptor mechanisms. Finally, the authors provide a review on neuroadaptive changes that manifest during opiate dependence, withdrawal and relapse in animal models. EXPERT OPINION In spite of the various methods available to treat opiate addiction, there is still a huge unmet need for its management, including the creative design of novel, non-addictive pain medications. The authors believe that multifunctional compounds or combinations of compounds that inhibit pain pathways, whereas not activating the reward pathways, will begin to subdue the opiate addiction endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaness A Grenald
- University of Arizona, Department of Pharmacology , Tucson, AZ 85724-5050 , USA +1 520 626 7801 ; +1 520 626 2204 ;
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Giri AK, Hruby VJ. Investigational peptide and peptidomimetic μ and δ opioid receptor agonists in the relief of pain. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2014; 23:227-41. [PMID: 24329035 PMCID: PMC4282681 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2014.856879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current methods for treating prolonged and neuropathic pain are inadequate and lead to toxicities that greatly diminish quality of life. Therefore, new approaches to the treatment of pain states are needed to address these problems. AREAS COVERED The review primarily reviews approaches that have been taken in the peer-reviewed literature of multivalent ligands that interact with both μ and δ opioid receptors as agonists, and in some cases, also with pharmacophores for antagonist ligands that interact with other receptors as antagonists to block pain. EXPERT OPINION Although there are a number of drugs currently on the market for the treatment of pain; none of them are 100% successful. In the authors' opinion, it is clear that new directions and modalities are needed to better address the treatment of prolonged and neuropathic pain; one drug or class clearly is not the answer for all pain therapy. Undoubtedly, there are many different phenotypes of prolonged and neuropathic pain and this should be one avenue to further develop appropriate therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswini Kumar Giri
- University of Arizona, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , 1306 East University Boulevard, PO Box 210041, Tucson, AZ 85721 , USA
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